Fem van Empel on Jumbo-Visma: "I have the confidence within the team and that gives me a very big mental advantage"

Fem van Empel is the undisputed dominant figure in this year's cyclocross field. The 21-year old Jumbo-Visma is not only undefeated, but barely contested. The confidence within the team gives her the upper hand, she tells.

“I try to enjoy every race. I think it is very special that I can now compete at this level. It is very special how things are going this season," Van Empel told Wielerflits. "In the second part of the road season I achieved reasonably good results. In addition, Jumbo-Visma is simply top notch in terms of guidance and the material is perfect. I have the confidence within the team and that gives me a very big mental advantage.”

After conquering the World Championships last year, van Empel continues an incredible winning streak. The Dutch national championships on the 15th of January were the last time she was defeated. Ever since, 14 wins. This season she has not missed out on a single opportunity, including European Championships and two World Cup rounds. She took some rest after the Europeans, but upon returning she looked just as strong.

Van Empel will now build towards the World Championships, and look to continue having the success. Besides technical supertalent Puck Pieterse, van Empel will have challengers in Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Lucinda Brand who have over the past few weeks shown tremendous form and may look to be the ones to defeat van Empel.